EdwardK

Its not really that balanced an article as the facts are not reported without qualifiers to shift the article towards negative position.
As an example the fact that the University has high security (biohazard 3 and 4) is paired with being one mistake away from an escaped virus. These labs have multiple procedural steps with redundant backups to prevent a release so it is much more than one mistake. It would take multiple mistakes plus in conjunction with mechanical failures for there to even be a risk of release. The author downplays the safety of the lab to paint more of a negative picture.

For those without a science background there are some popular books that paint a more neutral picture without dumbing down the risks, off the cuff try "Virus Hunter: Thirty Years of Battling Hot Viruses Around the World."

Ed